BANGALORE:
With one-third of the total honey produced in India coming from Karnataka, an increasing number of foreign countries are looking to India for their supply.

Karnataka has an enormous potential to produce honey owing to the vast forest areas, especially the Western Ghats and beekeeping accounts for a main part of rural employment in the State.

Unfortunately, there are very few areas in the state such as Sirsi, Belgaum and Coorg where pure or virgin honey can be found.

K.S. Sathyamurthy, the Chief Executive Officer of the Karnataka Khadi and Village Industry Board, said on Thursday: "Beekeeping coupled with horticulture is of great economic value and must be encouraged."

He was speaking at "Beekeeping Training Programme" organised by the Department of Zoology, Bangalore University, in association with National College, Basavanagudi, and All India Beekeeper's Association.

Honey is in demand by pharmaceutical companies all over the world as it is used in the manufacture of herbal medicines.

There is an increase in demand even for raw honeycombs, since many doctors abroad use bees to sting their patients for treatment as it activates the blood cells thus increasing blood circulation.

"Beekeeping should not be limited to rural areas, it will be really nice if people recognise this industry and install bee boxes in cities," Mr. Sathyamurthy added.

Katre Shakuntala, Professor and Chairperson, Department of Zoology, Bangalore University, said: "We have never thought of bees being useful. But we need to learn more about bees and their biology. Bees are the greatest pollinators. We are very dependant on them.

"Hence, beekeeping must be made commercially viable and a sustainable industry."